math curriculum- my two cents!

I had an interesting discussion today with my friend Audra, analyzing different math programs we've used and examined. With one child who hates math (but is good at it anyway) and another who loves it, I think my conclusion is that different math programs fit different learners better. There is no ONE perfect program for math. Some people are sold on Saxon, some are sold on Singapore, some are sold on Abeka, etc....I have my own opinions and here are my conclusions:

Singapore Math- We are using 2A and 2B for 2nd grade Gracie, a visual learner. We use Base 10 blocks to cement the ideas...it would be silly to have pictures of the blocks and yet not use any, but I've read reviews about Singapore not being hands-on enough... so maybe there are people who are relying only on the book? I'm horrible at doing that, as I am a curriculum junkie. ha ha. Anyway, I thought the blocks were an obvious part of helping cement the concepts. So, by using these types of blocks (available everywhere in educational stores) and everyday objects in the way the pictures are used, you just can't go wrong with this math program. The pictures, math games, puzzles, and practice pages really hold my daughter's interest. In fact, math is her favorite subject! She thinks it's fun! But she isn't distracted by visuals. She isn't needing a lot of review. She likes to move forward. When we get to the point in 2B where multiplication facts are ignored for a while to do measurement, time, money, etc, we will probably supplement with Addition the Fun Way and Multiplication the Fun Way.

Making Math Meaningful- we really enjoyed this! It was very hands-on for my 6th grade kinesthetic learner. It was non threatening, fun, and had very little writing. Gracie appreciated that as a first grader.

Saxon Math- Was not the best choice for my older child, Elli. She hates it with a passion. She also hates Abeka. Strong words, I know. Hers. She is a kinesthetic learner, as well as a visual-spatial learner (see The Visual-Spatial Learner by Dr.Linda Silverman). She enjoys learning the bigger picture and then getting down to the gritty details. She is very quick at memorizing and so much repetition made her physically sick. Now I know that many people love Saxon. I've seen it be a very effective program. However, for my daughter, it was not a fit. Ironically, now that she is in 7th grade taking a math class at the Christian school, she is using Saxon's school version of their pre-algebra level math and liking it. I think this is because the concepts are more intriguing to her, she says it's interesting. Doing it at school somehow makes it more manageable for her, too. So something about the higher-level math (as opposed to basic facts taught in earlier grades) erradicates the issues she struggled with before (boredom w/the repetition).

Abeka uses the same type of approach Saxon does, which is what didn't work for us. Elli did appreciate the graphics and pretty colors though. She used it 1st-3rd grade and had a very solid foundation of facts, despite a strong dislike for the subject. Absolutely no enthusiasm for learning anything related to math. Turned off that part of her brain when math "class" was done. We had to abandon traditional math workbooks to sneak in math the next couple of years, through a wide variety of "kits" that seemed to appeal to her creative side.


Supplemental materials we have used include Addition the Fun Way, Multiplication the Fun Way, Wrap-Ups, Take it To Your Seat Learning Centers (Math 4th-6th grade), and this math puzzle book I can't recall the name of...I've searched for it online but I can't remember the name of the website and catalog...I thought it was Mindware, but apparently that's not the name of it. The worksheets looked like circle paths with numbers in them and a few paths missing, you had to fill it in...it was math patterns and algebraic thinking, review of math facts to get there.... I can't recall. I'll have to post again later with more detail. I have a couple of other books we pull out for fun, too. They're very artsy and hands-on.

Kindergarten math was something completely different. Mostly an ecclectic hands-on approach. I used a Gifted and Talented workbook series we called the "Star-Tree Kit" (describes the logo) that had activities for a variety of subject areas. I liked the math section- it was colorful and she thought it was fun. We used dominoes to translate into addition problems (a domino with a 3 on one end and a 6 on the other meant add 3 + 6). We did patterning, cooking, measuring, etc.

We are interested in Shiller's Math K-3 and 4-6 programs. I love Montessori materials, maybe because I worked in a Montessori classroom for a year. I like it that it's all inclusive. I like it a lot. But we didn't have $200 to put out for one subject then, even though it'd be several years. I might get it this summer though- if Grace doesn't get $200 out of it for 3rd grade, I do have a baby who will be preschool/kindergarten age before we know it. We might just test to see if the next level kit would be better. I am skeptical about doing that- I don't want to rush her into anything before she's really solid on K-3 facts. She may be starting multiplication in Singapore, but that doesn't mean any of those concepts are rock solid yet. Let's be realistic.

So there's my 2 cents about math! We have done a lot of interesting math things away from "book work" to woo Elli after her bout with Abeka (and later Saxon). I think balance is extremely important. I think any declaration of one program being "top" falls into the Extreme Homeschooler category. Examples might include either an extreme Unschooler, or a Specific Brand Enthusiast. I will never say that "We only use this brand" because if we did, I know I'd get burned. The people in my life I know who say this all the time drive me crazy because they're extremely opinionated like that about all matters in life. I love them, but everything is a black and white issue. I prefer to look at math (and life) as more of a rainbow.... we need all these different types of choices because each child is so unique. There is a perfect program out there, but it will be personal for you and your child.